Fitbit adds cycling support to the Surge, introduces multi-device tracking

Fitbit’s Surge is the company’s most advanced fitness tracker, but has notably lacked proper support for cyclists. It turns out a lot of people ride bikes, so that’s changing next month.

The Surge will now measure distance, duration, average speed, heart rate and calorie stats tuned for biking and display them through Fitbit’s mobile apps. A new map preview function will show you activity predictions before you begin pedaling.

The Fitbit app will also keep track of your past stats so you can push yourself harder next time around. The Surge’s multi-sport feature, which provides workout summaries for up to 7 different types of exercises, will naturally now support cycling as well.

More nitpicky cyclists can log into the Fitbit’s web interface to zoom into by-the-second views of these stats, including elevation information for intensity estimates.

Biking aside, Fitbit is introducing multi-tracker functionality, which allows users to switch from one Fitbit device to another and continue to measure their stats on the same profile.

That might sound strange at first – why would you use more than one tracker? But this would let you switch from the Surge to something you can tuck in your pocket, like the Zip, if you’re going to a fancy event and the rubbery fitness tracker on your wrist clashes with your velvet tuxedo.

Of course, this also means you’ll lose the Surge’s GPS and heart rate measurements, but it’s better than nothing. We don’t know how many people would purposely invest in more than one tracker, but it could be nifty if you already have older Fitbit devices lying around.

Multi-tracker functionality is due to arrive this week. The cycling update for the Surge is coming next month in North America and to other regions soon after.